help me with my first handgun purchase.

I prefer 9 mm, BUT, if you're set on .45 acp, I'd go with one of the following (order of my preference):

+ Beretta PX4 .45
+ Glock 30SF (great for carry and shoots well at longer distances for it's size)
+ CZ 97BD (kind of large for carry)
+ S&W M&P45
+ Ruger SR1911 Commander (if you're comfortable with 1911 platform, but I wouldn't recommend it for first time pistol owners, for carry)
+ Ruger SR45

The first two guns, are the best shooters IMO as far as recoil and handling.
Ruger has excellent customer service!! I never had to use customer service for Glock, CZ or Beretta. S&W customer service was OK.
 
$600 gets you into used Sig P220 waters, and you may want to consider used anyway. There is a BUNCH of really very lightly used handguns out there, figger you are getting about a 30% discount off new.

There is a lot to be said for buying cheap then figuring out what you like with experience. Not that this approach always work....as my modest assemblage of firearms testifies... Sigh...
 
I personally had a bad experience with a M&P40 so I cannot recommend them. My particular pistol had an extremely gritty and nasty trigger. Did not get any better after 4-500rds and the trigger actually would somehow rub my finger raw when shooting. The gun did feel built well and the ergonomics where excellent but it turned my off of S&W autos. The ruger SR45 hasn't been around that long and when they first came out there where problems, also it has a mag disconnect safety which is a no-no, although it can be removed. If you want a .45 for around 600 I really think you are better off with a 1911 (avoid Taurus). Try and get your hands on a Walther ppq and see how you like the feel (9mm, .40, .45) also an HK vp9/vp40

.45 is great just remember the cost of ammo is much more expensive and capacity is much more limited. If you have big giant hands give the glock 21 a try. Good gun but some people don't like the feel or angle of the grips and they are ugly.

.40 caliber is a good compromise, it has similar speed to a 9mm with similar weight and energy of a .45, yet costs much less to shoot than a .45 and holds more ammo
 
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